Outsourcing the reconstruction

July 1, 2004 10:52 AM

Outsourcing comes to Iraq. Interesting article from the WP (login req'd, get one here) about workers from countries such as India and South Korea, subcontracted by American companies, notably the ever-infamous Halliburtun. Effectively turned into indentured servants, these workers not only endure work conditions that American workers would never tolerate, but they do it in a war zone. "Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said contractors' use of multiple layers of subcontracts makes it difficult for the U.S. government to ensure the fair treatment of the workers it effectively employs."
posted by mkultra (2 comments total)

"contractors' use of multiple layers of subcontracts makes it difficult for the U.S. government to ensure the fair treatment of the workers it effectively employs."

I think that is largely true of American companies that hire contractors and subcontractors here in the United States too. Remember when WalMart got in trouble for hiring a cleaning contractor who in turn hired illegal aliens who worked in less than stellar conditions for less than minimum wage? The obvious remedy is to make the person/company who hires contractors responsible for seeing to it that the law is followed -- the existing contracts should say that the contractor agrees not to break the law. However, then you put yourself in the position of demanding green cards from your landscaper's work crew.
posted by ilsa at 1:00 PM on July 1, 2004

Thanks for this link, mkultra.
posted by homunculus at 6:10 PM on July 1, 2004